Vacuum cleaner



March 2, 51943.

G. E.' LOFGRl-:N

VACUUM CLEANER Filed June 25, 1941 1 ENTR.

ATTORNEY,

Patented Mar. 2, 1943 VACUUM CLEANER Gustaf Einar Lofgren, Riverside, Conn., assignor to Electrolux Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application June 25, 1941, Serial No. 399,597

6 Claims.

My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and more particularly to vacuum cleaners of the enclosed bag type.

Vacuum cleaners of this type include a casing within which is mounted a motor-fan unit and which also encloses a dust bag. One end of the casing is provided with a closure member which may be removed in order totake out the dust bag for the purpose of emptyingit. The other end of the casing may be provided with a closure member which may also be removable in order to give access to the motor unit. In accordance with the present invention, the closure member at this end is also utilized to support the motor-fan unit and while removable, in order to provide a proper support it is not so readily removable as is the case Where it is not utilized as a motor support. However, it is desirable that certain of the electrical connections, such as a switch, be readily accessible, and in accordance with my invention a hood member is placed over the closure member, portions of the two members being spaced apart so as to provide room for such electrical connections.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved foot-actuated switch operating mechanism receivable in such space. This mechanism includes a movable member extending through an opening in the hood member, so as to be accessible outside the casing for contact by the foot.

. An exhaust air passage is provided through the closure and hood members and in accordance with my invention the aforesaid space is sealed from this passage in order to prevent the leakage of air out through the opening in the hood member.

Further objects and advantages of .my invention will be apparent from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which form a part of this specication and of which:

Fig. l is a side view, partially broken away, of a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the vacuum cleaner shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the apparatus shown 'in Fig. 2, but with the hood member removed; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to the figures, reference character MI indicates a hollow elongated casing which is supported by means of runners I I secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by brackets i2. The left-hand end, as viewed in Fig. l', of the casing .is provided with a removable closure member I3 which is secured in place by means of latch members I4, on either side, one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Closure member I3 is provided with an inlet opening to which may be connected a. hose I5 leading from va suction nozzle I6. Disposed within the casing II) in well known manner is a. dust bag I1, the ,open mouth of which is secured to a ring which is clamped between the closure member I3 and the end of the casing.

AExtending transversely of the casing is a partition I8 which serves to support one end of a motor-fan unit I9. The other end of the motorfan unit is supported by means of a partition 20 which also constitutes a removable closure member for this end of the casing. Partition 20 is formed of two parts 20a and 20D suitably secured together, as by welding.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 2, the righthand end of the casing is provided with an nternal ring 2| which has two axial anges joined together by means of a radial web. The outer edge of part 20a of partition 20 is formed with an axial flange which carries a gasket 22 adapted to seat in the ring 2 I. The partition 20 is secured in place by means of a plurality of bolts 23, one of which is shown in Fig. 4.

Part 20h 'of partition 20 is formed with a centrally located aperture and a ring 24 is secured to the partition in any suitable manner, as by rivets 25, so as to provide with the partition an annular groove in which is seated a ring 26. The outer surface of a rubber ring 2l is secured to ring 26, as by vulcanizing, while the inner surface of ring 2'I is secured to a ring 28. The latter ring is adapted to closely embrace a circular projection 29 formed on the housing of the electric motor, and a lock ring 3U prevents axial movement between the ring 28 and the motor housing.

As shown more particularly in Fig. 4, part 20h of partition 20 is provided with a series of apertures 3| for the passage therethrough of air.

Part 20a of the partition includes an axially extending cup-shaped portion which is formed with a centrally located exhaust air opening in which is suitably secured a ring 32 provided with an inwardly extending flange 33. The end of the hose I5 may be inserted in this exhaust opening and the ange 33 engaged by spring-pressed latch members of known design for retaining the hose in place.

A bracket 34 is secured to the upper part of part 20a of the partition and is provided with parallel arms 35 between which is pivotally mounted a member 36 by means of a pin 31. Member 36 is formed with a shoulder 38 which may, be brought to bear against a reciprocal plunger 39 forming part of an electric switch 40.

The switch is supported from partition 20 by means of nuts which engage the partition on either side thereof. A coil spring42 has one "nd bearingV against one of the nuts 4l while the other end engages a recess 43 formed in member 36 so as to normally urge the shoulder 38 away from the plunger 39.

A hood member 50 is secured to partition 2|] so as to cover both parts 20a and 20h thereof and to conceal them from view. The hood is removably secured in place by means of a screw 5| engaginga threaded member 52 which is permanently carried by a bracket 53 welded to the upper part of portion 20a.v Hood 50 is spaced from the upper part of the partition so as to provide a space into which extends the plunger 39 of the switch 40 and within which the member 36 is pivoted. This member extends through a slot 51 in the hood so as to be accessible for operation. Member 35 has projections 64 extending from either side thereof which contact the inner surface of hood member 50 adjacent to the slot 51, so as to limit the pivoting of member 36 in a counterclockwise direction under the influence of spring 42. When the member 36 is not depressed, the spring holds the projections against the hood member, thus preventing rattling of the member 36.

Inasmuch as member 36 is intended to be operated by the foot, it is unavoidable that the foot will at times slip off the member and contact the adjacent surface of the hood. If the hood is painted, this would result in marring and consequently there is provided a band 58 which is formed with a slot 59 so as to be vdisposed on `either side of the member 36. This band is secured to the hood by having one end thereof formed as a hook B0, while the other end has an offset lip 6|, both the hook and the lip engaging recesses formed in the hood. In addition, bolt 5I engages strip 58. This strip may be made of unpainted metal, and is preferably chromium plated.

Hood 50 is formed with an aperture 62 which is in alignment with the exhaust air opening in part 20a of. the partition. This opening is surrounded by a ring 63, preferably of the same material as strip 58, which is held in place by having its inner edge crimped over the edge opening 62 in the hood. This ring serves to prevent marring of the painted surface of the hood in the event that the end of the hose is knocked against it while being inserted in the exhaust air opening.

It will thus be seen that the hood 50 may be easily removed by unscrewing screw 5| so as to expose the switch-operating member in the event that repairs are required. This hood member is not subjected to any strain when the hose is connected to the exhaust opening, inasmuch as the hose engages the flange 33 which is carried by the part 20a of the partition, and not by the hood. Furthermore, there is no air flow withinthe space between the end member 20 and the hood, and consequently there is no tendency for air to leak out around the switchoperating member through the opening 51, 0;' through the joint betweenthe hood and casfing I0.

If it is necessary to gain access to the motor, partition 2G may be removed by removing screws 23, whereupon the partition, motor and switch may be pulled out of thev casing as a unit, and

nections between the switch and the motor be disconnected.

While I have illustrated and described one more or less specic embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for the purpose of illustration only and the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means including an electric motor for producing flow of air through said casing, an end member secured to said casing and formed with a port for flow of air therethrough, a hood member surrounding said end member and removably se- Vcured thereto, portions of said members being spaced from each other to provide an enclosed chamber, an electric switch' carried by said end member and having a reciprocable, plunger extending into said chamber, an operating member pivotally mounted on said end member and contacting said plunger so as to reciprocate the latter, said operating member extending through an opening in said hood member, the portion of said end member which bounds said chamber being imperforate so as to prevent flow of air into said chamber. v

2. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means including an electric motor for producing iiow of air through said casing, an end member secured to said casing and formed with a port for ow of air therethrough, a hood member surrounding said end member and removably secured thereto, portionsI of said members being spaced from each other to provide an enclosed chamber, an electric switch carried by said end member and having a reciprocable plunger extending into said chamber, an operating member pivotally mounted on said end member and contacting said plunger so as to reciprocate the latter, said operating member extending through an opening in said hood member and having a projection for contacting the inner surface of said hood member for limiting the outward pivoting of said operating member through said.

opening, a spring for urging said projection against said surface to prevent rattling of the operating member, the portion of said end member which bounds said chamber being imperforate so as to prevent flow of air into said chamber.

3. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means including an electric motor for providing ow of air through said casing, an end member for said without requiring that any of the electrical con- 4casing formed with a port for flow of air therethrough, means for supporting said electric rnotor from said member, a hood member surrounding said end member and removably secured thereto, portions of said members being spaced from each other to provide an enclosed chamber, an electric switch carried by said end member and disposed in part at least within said chamber, and an operating member for said switch movably mounted on said end memberY and extending through an opening in said hood member, and means for removably securing said end member to said casing, whereby said end member, motor and switch are removable as a unit from said casing.

4. A vacuum cleaner subassembly comprising a fan housing, a. fan inside the fan housing, an electric motor directly driving said fan and having its housing secured to the fan housing, a resilient support secured to the motor housing end of the subassembly, a supporting member secured to the resilient support, a switch adapted to be electrically connected to the power leads of said motor and mounted on said member, an actuating member for said switch supported thereby and having its operative end located on the side of said member opposite said fan housing, passageway means in said member permitting air to flow therethrough, a tube secured at one end in iiuid tight relation to said member so as to surround said means and adapted to receive a hose inserted through its other end, and a pedal mounted above said tube adapted to move said actuating member, said subassembly being adapted to be inserted bodily into a vacuum cleaner housing, fan end first, up to said member and to \be supported by said member from said vacuum cleaner housing.

5. In a vacuum cleaner, a tubular casing having an opening at the end thereof, electric means for producing a ow of air mounted within said casing, a supporting member for one end of said electric means, said supporting member cooperating with said opening at the end of the casing to provide a closure therefor, passageway means in said support permitting air to flow therethrough, channel means secured to said support around said passageway means providing a connecting for an air conduit and providing a path through which air iiowing through said support must flow into said connection, a, switch for said electric means, pedal means for controlling said switch mounted on the side of said support opposite to said electric means, and a hood having an opening at one side fitting over said opening in said casing and over said support and the pedal means and channel means, said hood having an opening on its other side through which said air conduit may be joined to said connection and having another opening near the top thereof through which a portion of said pedal means extends, said hood having hard corrosion resisting surfaces highly resistant to abrasion as compared to such surfaces as varnish, enamel, leatherette, paint and shellac surrounding said two last mentioned openings therein, other parts of the exterior of said'hood having corrosion resisting surfaces that are softer than said first mentioned surfaces.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a hollow casing, means including an electric motor for producing flow of air through said casing, an end member secured to said casing and formed with a port for flow of air therethrough, a hood member surrounding said end member and removably secured thereto, portions of said members being 20 spaced from each other to provide an enclosed chamber, an electric switch carried by said end member and having a reciprocable `plunger extending into said chamber, an operating member pivotally mounted on said end member and coni tacting said plunger so as to reciprocate the lat- GUSTAF EINAR LOFGREN. 

